Buoyant seat for boats



(No Model.)

G. PERKINS. BUOYANT SEAT FOR BOATS.

No. 523,151.' Patented July 1'7, 1894.

f UNHED STATES ATENT erica,

GILBERT PERKINS, OF WAKEEIELD, ASSIGNOR OE ON E-HALE TO WILLIAM H. PERKINS, OE GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

BUOYANT SEAT FOR BOATS.

SPECIFICATION fol'lnirlg,` part 0f Letters Patent N0. 523,151, dated July 17, 1894. Application tiled October 11, 1893l Serial No. 487,382. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be 1t known that I, GILBERT PERKINS, of

Wakeiield, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement 1n Ruoyant Seats for'Boats, of which the followlng description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is 'a speciiication,like letters on the drawings representinglike parts.

This invention has for its object the production of a buoyant seat for boats, particularly row boats, which seat shall be removable at will, yet which when in position in the boat, is capable of preventing sinking of the boat when the latter becomes partially filled with water.

The invention is particularly adapted for use in connection with iishermens dories in which the seats must always be removed in order to nest the dories while on the voyage, but which must necessarily be so constructed as to be easily placed in position in the dories when the latter are desired for use.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents, in vertical longitudinal section, a boat, shown as a dory, equipped with seats embodying this invention, and Fig. 2, a vertical cross section taken on the dotted line Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a dory of usual or ordinary construction, the same being provided at each side with the usual seatsupport, shown as a rail a extending from bow to stern. The sides of the boat are also provided with the usual short cleats a located at points at which the seats rest when in position, the said cleats a being above and separated from the rail by openings az of such size as to permit the easy introduction of the ends of the seat or seats.

B, B, represent the usual seats or thwarts each carrying at itsrunder side an air-tight tank or float b which in practice is preferably protected by an outer protecting covering h2, shown as of wood screwed or otherwise secured to the under side of the seat, the tank in the present instance being sustained by this outer wood covering. The tanks are removable with their respective seats and may be stacked at a convenient point when it becomes necessary to nest the dories.

When the dories are to be used, the seats may be placed in position as readily as though the tanks were not attached, the latter, when the seats are in position, `acting to displace a large amount of water, should the dories become partially or wholly filled with the same, thereby acting to buoy up or float the dory when the latter becomes more or less iilled.

The tanks are preferably shaped as shown in the drawings Fig. 2, to correspond with the cross sectional interior lines of the dory, so that the said tanks form in effect so many bulk heads in which various lots ot sh or goods may be placed andthereby maintained at all times separate and distinct.

While this invention vis particularly useful in connection with iishermens dories, yet it may be applied to other boats as well in which the seats are or may be removable, and

while I prefer to construct and protect the tanks in the manner shown, yet it is evident the shape, construction and method of protecting the tanks may be varied and still come within the spirit and scope of this invention.

The tank constitutes a float for the boat, which ioat is removable with the seat, yet this invention isnot restricted to an air-tight tank for the iioat, it being evident that floats of cork or other suitable material may like wise be attached to and removed from the seat or seats ot' the boat.

I claiml. The combination with a boat, having side seat supports of a removable seat therefor, provided with a float secured to and removable with the seat, the ends of said seat projecting beyond said oat to rest upon said seat-supports, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a boat, having side seat supports of a removable seat therefor, and an air-tight hollow iioat carried by and removable with said seat, the ends of the latter projecting beyond the former to rest upon said seat-supports, substantially as de- I between the latter and said. cleats, substan- Io scribed. taily as described.

3. The combination with a boat, provided In testimony whereof I have signed my with a seat-supporting side rail a, and one or naine to this speciication in the presence of' lnore cleats a', of a removable seat adapted two subscribing Witnesses.

to be inserted between said cleat and rail, GILBERT PERKINS. and a float on and removable with said seat, Witnesses: the ends of the latter projecting beyond said JOHN R. HARRIS,

oat to rest upon said seat-supporting rails WM. H. PERKINS. 

